It sounds like he was doing fine with it, until he just had to show off, letting people get into the pool and take pictures! Dumbass...
He HAD TO know it was illegal to keep it, and only a moron wouldn't know the pics were going to end up on social media.
All that said, he put a ton of time, effort and money into providing what looks like top notch care for the thing. Kudos to him... most of the idiots who start out with a baby gator turn them loose or flush them into the sewer when the cuteness wears off.
Summerthyme